Eight in the running for coveted boot

The Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year competition is no more — it is now the Rural Catch as bachelorettes compete alongside the bachelors.

Four men and four women have been named as the 2018 Fieldays Rural Catch finalists, vying for the coveted Golden Gumboot and a $20,000 prize pool.

Fieldays Rural Catch, formerly known as the Rural Bachelor competition, has been a popular fixture on the Fieldays calendar for 13 years, according to event manager Lynn Robinson.

It pits eight rural competitors from New Zealand and Australia against each other to test their skills on and off the farm.

Robinson said there had been an encouraging number of entries from all over New Zealand this year from various agri-sectors including dairy, and sheep and beef drystock.

“The calibre of entrants is very high, and it was challenging to narrow it down to just eight finalists,” she said.

“The women are especially talented. I’m sure they’ll give the guys a run for their money.”

The all-expenses-paid competition starts on June 10 with the Farmlands roadtrip, which gives contestants the chance to get to know each other and try their hand at various challenges before the serious stuff begins at Fieldays on June 13.

This year, the competition will feature the traditional challenges such as fencing, quad bike skills and dog handling as well as challenges involving tractors and cooking — but with a twist.

“The popular ‘fittest farmer’ challenge, introduced last year, testing finalists’ strength and fitness will feature again this year.

“The finalists’ financial skills will also be tested in a ‘nail your numbers’ challenge thanks to Fieldays partner Xero.”

Find out more at fieldays.co.nz/ruralcatch